Gay couples in Missouri, are you considering getting married in Illinois?

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is encouraging Illinois counties to grant same-sex marriage licenses immediately, after a federal court ruling last month that gave an early green light to same-sex couples in Cook County.

If you live in Missouri, and are thinking about getting married in Illinois, you may need to slow down. Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, says marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples from Missouri may not be valid. That's because Illinois law prohibits any marriage that would be void in the couple’s home state, and Missouri’s Constitution defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Missouri couples may have no trouble actually getting licenses, but Mittman says there could be problems down the line if someone decides to challenge them. Please respond to the questions below if you'd like to share your story of what the uncertainty of this situation means to you.